hi everyone. as you see i am new here. i haven't been diagnosed with depresesion but i have been doing some research for a little while. as i can see i have symptoms. i am only fifteen and i havent told anyone except for close friends. i want to know for sure if i am depressed or if this is just a phase that i will grow out of but i don't want to tell my parents. i don't think that they would believe me. they would think i was just over-exaggerating or something. if you have any advice whatsoever it would be very much appreciated. thank you.

Hi cunfewshen! Welcome to Healing Well :) What are some of the symptoms you are experiencing that make you think that you have depression? If you really think that you do, then that's great that your looking into getting help. And if you honestly think that you do, tell your parents now so that they can be there for support! Getting the help you need early is a wonderful decision on your part! *hugs* Welcome!

Hi and welcome to H.W.!Without knowing any of your symptoms, it's hard to say whether or not you may be depressed. We aren't doctors obviously but we can offer support. This is a very caring group of people.Good luck in your search for help, come back and let us know what's up.

Dear Cunfenchew,Defintely get help. I was depressed at 15 and I didn't get help. I regret it. I could have saved my self a lot of misery. Only if you think you have it still get help. If you have trouble sleeping too little or too much that is one sign of depression.Just to name a few.Clare5

Don't underestimate your parents' ability to understand. They should really know how you are feeling. I always told my kids "if you feel like you can't talk to me about something, it is a sure sign that you should talk to me. If you can't talk to me, then call Aunt Judy, Pastor Ken or some other adult you respect."

Get some help, Kiddo. There are a lot of medications that didn't exist when I was a teenager. I tried suicide.

Today people can get a lot of help from drugs, various kinds of thereapy, 12 step programs, and self-help books. Look at your library from books on depression. Look for authors Aaron Beck and David Burns. There is a simple test (by DR. Beck) that indicates the seriousness of the illness and the need for treatment.

Don't give up. Fight back. Take action. I was terrible depressed for years, but am much better now. You can get help too.